TED Durcan was the man to follow at Windsor as he notched a 189-1 treble highlighted by Splinter Cell’s success in the Slough & South Bucks Express Handicap.

Sent off a 5-1 chance for Durcan and trainer Marco Botti, Splinter Cell looked well and truly held as History Lesson made the best of his way home in the 10-furlong heat.

However, Durcan galvanised his mount to such effect that the combination got up in the final stride to win by a nose, with Call It On just half a length back in third.

Botti had just touched down after flying back from saddling Gitano Hernando to land a surprise success in the Goodwood Stakes at Santa Anita.

He was represented by travelling head lad Stuart Jackson, who said: ‘‘Ted said the horse was hanging one way and then the other, but in fairness he’s still a big baby and it took him a while to get the message.’’ Durcan was impressed by Godolphin’s Rainbow Desert after the American-bred filly made all in the Baylis Media Maiden Stakes to become his third winner of the day.

The Dynaformer filly did not have to work too hard on her racecourse bow, seeing off Etruscan by five lengths.

‘‘It’s been a lucky afternoon for me,’’ said Durcan.

‘‘This was probably not the strongest race in the world but this filly is scopey and hopefully it will be onwards and upwards with her.’’ Durcan had initiated his hat-trick as the Rod Millman-trained Fyelehk (10-1) relished the testing conditions in the second division of the At The Races Sky 415 Handicap.

Efisio Princess maintained the smart recent form of John Long’s Surrey yard when winning the Division One of that race for the second time in the space of three years.

Robert Winston was also in fine heart, kicking off a double with Christopher Wren (9-1) in the second division of the Windsor Ascot & Eton Express Nursery.

■ Chabal is set to join Godolphin after a final run for Jim Bolger in Saturday’s Jumeirah Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

Bolger is aiming to take the Group One for the fourth year in a row following the successes of Teofilo, New Approach and Intense Focus and the twice-raced colt is the 7-4 favourite with Paddy Power.

After winning impressively on his debut at Leopardstown, Lady O’Reilly’s Chabal was only just beaten in the National Stakes by Kingsfort – who has already been purchased by Godolphin.

‘‘Chabal will join Godolphin after the Dewhurst and he will run for his current connections on Saturday,’’ confirmed Godolphin’s racing manager Simon Crisford.

‘‘He’s an interesting horse for next season and we will see how he runs on Saturday before we start making any plans for him.

‘‘It looks to be a competitive renewal of the Dewhurst this year.’’ Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor has three runners of his own entered in the Dewhurst, headed by Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere third Buzzword.

Sunday’s Gran Criterium runnerup Vale Of York could make a quick reappearance following his Italian trip while Middle Park fourth Poet’s Voice is still in the mix.

Crisford added: ‘‘We’ve made no decisions yet and we will wait until later in the week.’’ Bolger also has two further strings to his bow in Book Of Numbers and Free Judgement, while compatriot Aidan O’Brien has no less than six possibles including the much-touted Steinbeck, who won his only start at Naas in May.

‘‘He had a little break after his last run,’’ O’Brien told At The Races.

‘‘He’s back in full work now and we were very happy with his last piece of work. ‘‘Obviously we always thought he was a very nice horse, the Dewhurst is an important race for two-year-olds and we are very happy with where he is at the moment and happy to let him run.’’ Brian Meehan’s Prix Morny hero Arcano and the Clive Cox-trained Xtension are two of the leading contenders for the home contingent, while Dick Turpin bids to bounce back from a disappointing run at Longchamp.